Picks and Pans Review: Interviewing with Confidence

Okay, you survived three years of college without videotaped help and now face that dreaded eventuality, real life, in the form of senior-year job interviews. Here are 105 minutes of tips from employment consultant Peter D. Leffkowitz, who says, "There's a mate for all of us in this world." There's an employer for all of us in this world." Work experience, he says, is worth several grade points in landing a first job. Don't inflate your qualifications; you'll be found out. Be sure a firm you interview with is right for you. If it's nearby, park outside as the place opens to absorb the atmosphere. While the tape is aimed at the just graduating, Leffkowitz also counsels older job seekers long past the beanie stage to exploit previous work. Most of his tips could in fact help anyone, even if he takes too long to get them across. Leffkowitz does offer some novel suggestions, however. Counter "Tell me something about yourself" with "Where would you like me to begin?" to avoid a conflict in priorities. Take to the interview a folder containing the company's annual report, corporate information from a library and 10-15 tough questions about the company. And never, ever, cut an employer's representative short. If the interviewer makes a comment, count two seconds, give an "acknowledgment grunt" and resume the conversation. "The last five words of every sentence," Leffkowitz explains, "contain much more substance than any other part of the sentence." One, two, hmm.... This tape could be helpful. (Professional Training Specialists, $69.95; 916-893-4306)